Moratorium approved for city’s core

A garage apartment overlay for core Norman neighborhoods is on hold, along with all other new residential construction in the core.

The Norman City Council approved a moratorium Tuesday for a wide swath of Ward 4 in reaction to remaining R-3 zoning, which allowed large, multi-family structures to be built alongside historic bungalows in primarily single-family residential neighborhoods.

“This is before us because we feel like we’re at a crisis point,” Mayor Lynne Miller said.

The item was approved with no protest from local builders and developers, many of whom attended the meeting but did not speak. While the moratorium stops large-scale projects, it also stops all other residential new construction, including single-family homes and garage apartments.

“The bulldozers are at the gate,” Ward 4 Council member Bill Hickman said, adding that the delay will allow the city council time to develop good policies.

The moratorium includes the area from Robinson Street on the north to Lindsey Street on the south, from Flood Avenue to east 12th Avenue.